The Workplace & Employment Awards have introduced two new categories this year:

Employer for the Future - it will focus on, and reflect, how businesses and organisations are 'future-proofing' themselves to cope with the astonishing pace of change in the world right now.

Team of the Year - this category focusses on the vital importance of working together creatively, which is fundamental for businesses/organisations to succeed and thrive.

Guest speaker at the launch was Claire Colvin, talent & organisational development director with CDE Global in Cookstown, a significant player in the wet processing industry, making equipment which helps quarrying, recycling and mining businesses extract material out of the ground.

The company won the Managing Talent category of the awards three years in a row and in 2016 clinched both Entrepreneurial Spirit and Innovative Employer gongs.

Irish News business editor Gary McDonald, who also spoke at the launch, said: "Technology may have infiltrated every aspect of our business and is front-and-centre in today's corporate world, the human element remains by far our most important and valuable business resource.

"Every part of our business boils down to people. We need to value and reskill our people and think strategically about how to deploy all that talent. It's exactly what these unique awards have been all about since 2007, where entries have increased year on year.

"And in the current climate the Irish News Workplace & Employment Awards - with the straplines of STRIVE, GROW, SUCCEED - have never been more relevant. There really is a compelling argument to enter."

The launch was hosted by BBC presenter Karen Patterson, who will again be compere at the awards in Titanic Belfast on Thursday June 8.